Thill-coupling attachment.



No. 637,530. Patented Nov. 2|, I899. E. B. smnu & m. c. )WEIGLEIN. THILLCOUPLING ATTACHMENT.

(Application filed. Sept. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.)

KM? By WITNESS v IHVENTORs W M 1&2? 6.102

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

EZRA B. SMITH AND MICHAEL O. WEIGLEIN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

THlLL-COUPLING ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,530, dated November21, 1899.

Application filed September 18, 1899. Serial No. 730,962. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EZRA B. SMITH and MICHAEL C.WEIGLEIN, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inThill-Ooupling Attachments, of which the following is a full, exact, andclear description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification.

Our invention relates to that class of attachments which in a unitarystructure serve both to hold the thill coupling-pin in place and to takeup any lost motion or wear between the same and the thill-iron toprevent rattling; and it has for its object the provision of a springsecured to the base of the clip by the nuts which secure the clip inplace and having one end formed into a loop to afford a bearing for aswinging link provided at one end with a retaining-shoulder for thecoupling-pin to prevent its withdrawal and at its opposite end with apivoted cam-lever, which when the link is swung around to engage thecoupling-pin and is pressed backward conforms to the shape of the springand puts its free end, which engages the under side of the thill-iron,under tension, so as to hold the coupling from disengagement and by thepressure of the spring to prevent its rattling.

The novelty of our invention will be hereinafter more fully set forth,and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation ofa thill-coupling embodying our invention in its closed or operatingposition. Fig. 2 is a corresponding view with the lever thrown open andthe link thrown back to permit the withdrawal of the coupling-pin. Fig.3 is a front elevation of Fig. 1, looking to the left thereof. Fig. 4 isa plan View, partly in section, representing a modification in theconstruction. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the link of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is anend elevation of Fig. 5, looking from the left. Fig. 7 is a detailsectional side elevation of the engaging end of the link and of thespring.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts inall the figures.

A represents the metal part of an ordinary Vehicle-axle, and B is itsrounded and orna mental wooden cap-piece, both of which are surroundedby the usual clips 0, carrying perforated ears D for the receptionbetween them of the usual thill-iron E, to which the thill F is boltedor secured in the usual manner.

G is the base-plate of the clip, through whose perforations the lowerthreaded ends of its legs extend and have screwed upon them thesecuring-nuts H in the usual manner.

Interposed between the base-plate G and the nut H is the flattened upperend of a flat spring I, having perforations through which the legs ofthe clip pass. This spring extends forward of the base-plate G and hasits end coiled up and backward, as seen at a, Fig. 7. Its opposite endextends rearward of the baseplate G, is curved downward, thence forwardbeyond the ears D of the clip, and finally up ward and backward until itbears under the perforated eye of the thill-iron E, against which itbears.

Pivoted in the curved looped end a of the spring I is a cross-bar I),having one side flattened, as seen in Fig. 7, for its ready introductioninto the curved loop a. This crossbar connects the two upper sides of alink J, straddling the spring I, and whose lower ends are connected by asecond cross-bar c on the lower side of the spring and upon which ispivoted the rear end of a lever K, whose end surrounding the pivot isformed into a cam (1, bearing against the under side of the spring I.The lever K extends rearward, and when pressed up conforms to the shapeof and snugly embraces the under side of the spring 1, thereby causingits cam d'to press up the spring I and to exert pressure upon the underside of the eye of the thill-iron, and thereby cause its pivotal pin orbolt L to be bound in its bearings to prevent any rattling. At the sametime when the lever and link are in the position just above indicatedand illustrated in Fig. 1 the upwardly-projecting side piece e on oneside of the link comes opposite to and engages the head of the pivot pinor bolt to prevent its withdrawal and to secure it in place, as clearlyindicated in Fig. 3.

The above construction aflords a very simple and secure fastening forthe thill-coupling bolt or pin and at the same time so presses upon theeye of the thill-iron as to cause it to bind and prevent rattling, aswill be readily understood.

By having the lever K conform to the contour of the rear part of thespring and extend upward upon the rear side thereof there is noliability of the lever being accidentally tripped in backing the vehicleamong high weeds or other obstructions, as would be the case if the rearend of the lever had a downward projection beneath the bottom of thespring, as will be readily understood.

At the same time should it be desired to uncouple the shafts from thevehicle for any purpose-as, for instance, where it is desired tosubstitute a pole in the place of the shafts it would be only necessaryto draw down and forward the lever K to the position shown in Fig. 2,whereupon the linkJwould be swung forward to cause the projecting end 6thereof to clear the head of the pivot pins or bolts and at the sametime to release the pressure upon the spring I. lVith the parts in thisposition the pivot pins or bolts L can be instantly drawn out, thusfreeing the thill-irons and permitting the shafts to be removed andtheir place substituted by a pole, as desired, as will be readilyunderstood. Upon reinserting the pivot pins or bolts L and pressing backthe link J and lever K to the position shown in Fig. 1 all of the partsbecome instantly relocked and a toggle-joint is effected between thelink Jand the cam 61 of the lever K, which, under the pressure of thespring, serves to hold the parts locked together.

As a modification of our construction the offset e of the link might beon the opposite side of the same, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, and might bemade in hook form, so as to partially engage a circumferential groovej", cut

in the pivot pin or bolt L, whereby a locking engagement would be formedto prevent the withdrawal of the bolt until the link and lever K werethrown forward, as will be readily understood.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim- 1. In athill-coupling, the combination of the clip with fixed jaws, theperforated thilliron embraced by said jaws, a pivot-pin uuiting theparts, a spring secured to the under side of the axle and bent in loopform forwardly and upwardly with its free end bearing on the under sideof the thill-iron, a pivoted link embracing the forward looped end ofthe spring and having a shoulder to engage the pivot-pin, and a leverpivoted to the under side of the link and provided with a cam adaptedwhen the lever is thrown back to put the spring under tension and toform a toggle-joint to lock the parts, substantially as described.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination of the clip with fixed jaws, theperforated thilliron embraced by said jaws, a pivot-pin uniting theparts, a spring bolted to the clip-tie and having its forward endlooped, its rear end extending in rear of the axle thence bentdownwardly, forwardly and upwardly, with its free end engaging the underside of the thill-iron,a link embracing the forward looped end of thespring and pivoted to its forward projecting end and having a shoulderto engage the pivot-pin, and a lever pivoted to the under side of thelink and provided with a cam adapted when the lever is thrown back toput the spring under tension and to form a toggle-joint to lock theparts, substantially as described.

In a thill-coupling, a spring secured to the axle for exerting pressureupon the under side of the thill-iron, a link embracing said spring andprovided with a retainingshoulder for the coupling-pin, and a lever foroperating said link pivoted thereto and extending rearward and upward onthe under side of the spring so as to conform to the contour of thesame, substantially as described.

4. In a thillcoupling, a spring secured to the axle for exertingpressure upon the under side of the thill-iron, a link embracing saidspring and provided with a retaining-shoulder for the coupling-pin, andacam-lever for operating said link pivoted thereto and extendingrearward and upward on the under side of the spring so as to conform tothe contour of the same and extend upward beyond its lower rearpart,substantially as described.

5. In a thill-coupling attachment, the combination of the spring I withboth ends looped and its free ends -coming in close proximity to eachother, the linkJ pivoted to and straddling the free ends of the spring,a pivot-pin provided with a groove, a shoulder e on the link engagingsaid groove, and the lever K pivoted to the link on the under side ofthe spring and provided with a cam projection which when the lever isthrown back to snugly embrace the under side of the spring puts the freeend of the spring under tension and forms a lock to hold the parts fromaccidental disengagement, substantially as described.

6. In a thill-coupling attachment, the combination of the spring I withboth ends looped and its free ends coming in close proximity to eachother, the link J pivoted to and straddling the free ends of the springand provided with a-shoulder e, and the lever K pivoted to the link onthe under side of the spring and provided with a cam projection whichwhen the lever is thrown back to snugly embrace the under side of thespring puts the free end of the spring under tension and forms a lock tohold the parts from accidental disengagement, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a thill-coupling attachment, the combination of the spring I, withboth ends looped and its free ends coming in close proximity to eachother the lower of said ends beingprovided with the turned-back loop a,the link J having cross-bars l) c the former of which is adapted toengage the loop a said link also having a projection or shoulder e andstraddling the forward end of the spring, and the the parts fromaccidental disengagement,subleverKpivoted to the cross-bar c of the linkstantiall y as described.

on the under side of the spring and provided EZRA B. SMITH.

with a. cam projection d which when the le- MICHAEL O. WEIGLEIN. 7 5 Veris thrown back to snugly embrace the un- Witnesses:

der side of the spring puts the free end of the WM. J PEOK,

spring under tension and forms a lock to hold CLAUDE PRO OUNIAR.

